Door Controller for a Cable Car Vehicle

ABSTRACT

In order to enable more reliable actuation of the entry barrier ( 8 ) of a cable car vehicle ( 5 ) in a cable car station ( 2 ), at least one mechanically actuatable barrier actuation element ( 24 ) for actuating the entry barrier ( 8 ) is provided on the cable car vehicle ( 5 ), and at least one movable actuation component ( 28 ,  30 ) is provided in the barrier actuation apparatus ( 10 ). The actuation component ( 28 ,  30 ) is moved by the remote-control unit ( 11 ) upon activation of the barrier actuation apparatus ( 10 ) in order to exert an actuation force on the barrier actuation element ( 24 ), wherein the barrier actuation element ( 24 ) is moved by the actuation force in order to actuate the entry barrier ( 8 ).

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/EP2021/068435, filed Jul. 5, 2021, which itself claims priority to Austrian Patent Application No. A50578/2020, filed Jul. 6, 2020, the entireties of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present teaching relates to a cable car comprising at least one cable car station and at least one cable car vehicle, at least one actuatable entry barrier being provided on the cable car vehicle, which can be moved between an open position and a closed position when actuated, at least one remotely controllable barrier actuation apparatus being provided in the cable car station for actuating the entry barrier of the cable car vehicle, the barrier actuation apparatus being actuatable by a remote-control unit in order to displace the entry barrier from the closed position into the open position and/or vice versa, when the cable car vehicle is located in the region of the barrier actuation apparatus. The present teaching also relates to a method for operating a cable car comprising at least one cable station and at least one cable car vehicle, at least one actuatable entry barrier being provided on the cable car vehicle, which barrier can be moved between an open position and a closed position when actuated, the cable car vehicle being moved in the cable car station into a region of a remotely controllable barrier actuation apparatus, and the entry barrier being displaced from the open position into the closed position or vice versa by actuating the barrier actuation apparatus by means of a remote-control unit. Furthermore, the present teaching relates to a barrier actuation apparatus for arrangement in a cable car station of a cable car for actuating an entry barrier of a cable car vehicle of the cable car, which barrier is displaceable between an open position and a closed position, the barrier actuation apparatus being actuatable by a remote-control unit in order to displace the entry barrier from the closed position into the open position and/or vice versa, when the cable car vehicle is located in the cable car station in the region of the barrier actuation apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Cable car installations are used to transport people and materials between two or more cable car stations. For this purpose, a plurality of cable car vehicles, such as chairs or cabins, is moved between the cable car stations, either in a circulating manner or by shuttling back and forth. The cable car vehicles are moved between the cable car stations by means of at least one traction cable. The cable car vehicle can be suspended from at least one support cable, or also a traction cable (aerial cableways), or can be arranged on rails or on the ground (funiculars) in a manner allowing movement, and can be moved by at least one traction cable. However, the cable car vehicle can also be releasably or fixedly clamped to the traction cable, and moved by the traction cable. In the case of circulating cable cars, the cable car vehicles are often decoupled from the traction cable in a cable car station, e.g. by means of releasable cable clamps, and are moved through the cable car station at a lower speed, in order to make it easier for people to get on or off, or to make it easier to load or unload material.

It is known to actuate certain functions of cable cars, for example opening or closing a cable clamp, raising or lowering a safety bar or a weather protection hood of a chair, or opening and closing a door of a cabin or gondola in a cable car station, by means of a mechanical positive controller, in particular a link controller. For this purpose, a link is permanently arranged in the station, and a sensor element on the cable car vehicle senses the link when it passes through the station. The sensor element is arranged on a rotatably mounted lever, which is pivoted upon the sensing. The function in question is then carried out via a Bowden cable or an arrangement of rods acting on the lever. An example of the opening and closing function of a door can be found in US 3,742,864 A, and EP 1 671 867 B1 shows an example of a safety bar being raised and lowered.

However, the link control limits the flexibility of the door controller. In particular, the points in time or the positions at which the doors of a cabin are opened or closed within a cable car station depend on the specific embodiment and arrangement of the link guide in the cable car station and are therefore fixedly specified. In this case, a change in the open and closed position is not possible, or is only possible with very great effort, because the position of the stationarily arranged link guide in the cable car station would have to be changed for this purpose. Under certain circumstances, however, it may be desirable for the positions or points in time at which the doors are opened or closed to be changeable. For example, this could be the case in emergencies within the cable car station in which the cable car vehicle is already located outside the link guide. For example, the cable car vehicle could come to a standstill in an exit area of the cable car station with the door already closed, because the door was previously closed by the link guide. Similarly, the cable car vehicle could come to a standstill in an entry area of the cable car station with the door still closed because the door has not yet been opened by the link guide. In the case of such emergencies, it has hitherto been necessary to open the doors manually, in particular to push them open, which requires skill and a high expenditure of force. However, it could also be the case, for example, that there is a malfunction of the link controller, which is why the door does not open as desired or in the intended position.

EP 2 708 434 A1 discloses a cable car station in which a plurality of functions of the cable car can be controlled via a control unit. This also includes the opening/closing of the doors. The control unit can be actuated via a stationary user interface of a control room, or a remote-control. However, details of the specific embodiment of the door controller are not disclosed in EP 2 708 434 A1.

US 3742864 A discloses a passive mechanical positive controller for opening/closing a door of a cable car vehicle. The door is opened by a control pin of a control lever being displaced via a stationary control rail when the cable car vehicle is moving.

EP 1671867 A1 discloses a passive mechanical positive controller for opening a cover of a chair of a chairlift. The cover can be opened by a lever arranged on the suspension attachment being moved via a stationary ramp of a station.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Proceeding from the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present teaching to enable more reliable actuation of the entry barrier of a cable car vehicle within a cable car station.

According to the present teaching, the object is achieved in that at least one mechanically actuatable barrier actuating element is provided on the cable car vehicle for actuating the entry barrier, and at least one movable actuating component is provided in the barrier actuation apparatus, the actuating component being displaced by the remote-control unit when the barrier actuation apparatus is actuated, in order to exert an actuating force on the barrier actuating element, the barrier actuating element being displaced by the actuating force in order to actuate the entry barrier. As a result, it is possible to actuate an entry barrier of a cable car vehicle within a cable car station in a simple manner, independently of a mechanical positive controller.

The barrier actuation apparatus preferably has at least one opening element, which can be displaced between an opening rest position and an opening operating position by means of an opening actuating unit, the opening element generating an opening force on the barrier actuating element during displacement from the opening rest position into the opening operating position, in order to displace the entry barrier into the open position. As a result, the entry barrier of the cable car vehicle can be easily opened from a distance, by means of the remote-control unit.

The opening actuation unit for generating the opening force preferably has at least one electrically controllable opening element actuator which can be actuated by the remote-control unit. As a result, known actuators can be used to generate the opening force, for example electromagnetic, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators.

Advantageously, the barrier actuation apparatus has at least one closing element, which can be displaced between a closing rest position and a locking operating position by means of a closing actuation unit, the closing element generating a closing force on the barrier actuating element when moving from the closing rest position into the closing operating position, in order to displace the entry barrier into the closed position. As a result, the entry barrier of the cable car vehicle can be easily closed from a distance by means of the remote-control unit.

The closing actuation unit preferably has at least one electrically actuatable closing element actuator, in order to displace the closing element from the closing operating position into the closing rest position, the closing element actuator being actuatable by the remote-control unit. In order to generate the closing force, the closing element is preferably displaceable by gravity from the closing rest position into the closing operating position, preferably at least one weight element being provided on the closing element, in order to generate a particular closing force. In turn, known actuators, for example electromagnetic, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators, can thus be used in order to move the closing element back into the closing rest position after actuation. The generation of the opening force by gravity increases safety, since it is reliably avoided that impermissibly high forces are generated on the entry barrier and in particular on a stuck person or an object.

The opening element is advantageously designed as an opening rail which extends over a predetermined opening region in the direction of movement of the cable car vehicle, and/or the closing element is designed as a closing rail which extends over a predetermined closing region in the direction of movement of the cable car vehicle. As a result, the entry barrier can be actuated in a relatively large region in the longitudinal direction.

The barrier actuating element of the cable car vehicle is preferably located in a vertical direction above the opening element and/or below the closing element when the cable car vehicle is located in the region of the barrier actuation apparatus, wherein the barrier actuation apparatus is preferably arranged in an upper area of an exit area of the cable car station provided for the exit of the cable car vehicle from the cable car station and/or it is arranged in an upper area of an entry area of the cable car station provided for entry of the cable car vehicle into the cable car station. As a result, the entry barrier can be actuated in a region that is difficult for people to access. The arrangement in the exit area is advantageous for closing the entry barrier in a simple manner prior to the exit of the cable car vehicle from the cable car station. The arrangement in the entry area is advantageous for opening the entry barrier in a simple manner after the entry of the cable car vehicle into the cable car station.

Preferably, a mechanical positive controller for actuating the entry barrier for displacing the entry barrier into the closed position is provided, wherein the barrier actuation apparatus is mounted downstream of the mechanical positive controller in the exit direction of movement of the cable car vehicle, and/or a mechanical positive controller for displacing the entry barrier into the open position is provided in the entry area of the cable car station, wherein the barrier actuation apparatus is arranged upstream of the mechanical positive controller in an entrance direction of travel of the cable car vehicle. As a result, for example in an emergency, a still closed entry barrier upstream of the mechanical positive controller in the entrance region can be opened by the barrier actuation apparatus, and/or an already closed entry barrier in the exit area after the mechanical positive controller can be opened by the barrier actuation apparatus.

The remote-control unit is preferably designed as a stationary remote-control unit which is preferably arranged in a control room of the cable car station or outside the cable car station, and/or the barrier actuation apparatus is actuatable via a portable remote-control unit, preferably a mobile telephone or a portable computer, wherein control signals are transmitted in a wireless and/or wired manner from the remote-control unit to the barrier actuation apparatus. As a result, a locally very flexible actuation of the entry barrier from inside and/or from outside the cable car station can take place.

Advantageously, the cable car vehicle has a cabin, the entry barrier being a door, or the cable car vehicle has a chair, the entry barrier being a safety bar or a cover. As a result, the barrier actuation apparatus can be used in known cable cars.

The object is further achieved by a method and by a barrier actuation apparatus according to the present teaching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present teaching is described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 d which show, by way of example, advantageous embodiments in a schematic and non-limiting manner. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cable car station of a cable car,

FIG. 2 is a side view of a barrier actuation apparatus arranged in an exit area of a cable car station,

FIG. 3 is a view from behind of the barrier actuation apparatus,

FIGS. 4 a-4 d show a barrier actuation apparatus in different stages of the actuation for opening an entry barrier,

FIGS. 5 a-5 d show a barrier actuation apparatus in different stages of the actuation for closing an entry barrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and function of a cable car system is well-known, which is why it is only briefly explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , taking the example of a circulating aerial tramway. FIG. 1 shows a cable car station 2 (for example a mountain or valley station) of a cable car 1, which is designed as a circulating cable car. A pulley wheel 3 which guides the deflection of a circulating traction cable 4 of the cable car 1 is arranged in the cable car station 2. A pulley wheel 3 in at least one of the stations of the cable car 1 is driven in a known manner by a drive, in order to allow the traction cable 4 to circulate in a loop around a pulley wheel of a further station. It is also known for the traction cable 4 to be tensioned by a tensioning device acting on the pulley wheel 3. The cable car 1 is controlled by a cable car control unit SE in the form of suitable hardware and software.

For reasons of clarity and because they are irrelevant for the present teaching, these devices, which are known per se, in particular the second station with the pulley wheel, drive, tensioning devices, etc., are not shown. The cable car control unit SE is indicated merely schematically and can, of course, also be arranged at any other point of the cable car station 2. A plurality of cable car vehicles 5 is fixedly or releasably fastened to the traction cable 4. A cable car 1 can of course move a very large number of cable car vehicles 5 simultaneously with the traction cable 4, typically in the region of a few tens or a few hundred cable car vehicles 5, only a few of which are shown, for the sake of simplicity. A platform 6 is also provided in the cable car station 2 in order to enable or facilitate the boarding and exit of persons to be transported, or in general the loading and unloading of the cable car vehicle 5.

If the cable car 1 has cable car vehicles 5 that are clamped in a detachable manner on the traction cable 4, a cable car vehicle 5 of the cable car 1 that is traveling into the cable car station 2 will be decoupled from the traction cable 4 generally by means of a detachable cable clamp 16 (FIG. 3 ) provided on the cable car vehicle 5. Inside the cable car station 2 the cable car vehicle 5 is usually moved along a guide rail 7 through the cable car station 2, generally at a significantly lower speed than on the path between the cable car stations 2. As a result, this allows a more comfortable boarding and disembarking of the cable cars 5 within the cable car station 2 and a high conveying capacity can nevertheless be achieved by the unchanged high speed of the traction cable 4. A conveyor (not shown) is provided along the guide rail 7; by means of which conveyor the cable car vehicle 5 is moved onwards through the cable car station 2. The conveyor is designed, for example, in the form of driven conveyor wheels 23 which are arranged in the cable car station 2 and which work together with a friction lining 22 on the cable car vehicle 5 in the cable car station 2, as is indicated in FIG. 3 . When the cable car vehicle 5 travels out of the cable car station 2, in the region of an exit area A the cable car vehicle 5 is accelerated via the conveyor and is again coupled to the traction cable 4 by means of the cable clamp 16. In order to actuate the cable clamp 16, a suitable cable-clamp actuating unit can be provided in each case, in a known manner, for example in the form of a mechanical link guide.

The cable car 1 can be designed, for example, as an aerial tramway, in which cable car vehicles 5 have cabins which are guided along a platform 6. Passengers can board or disembark the cable car vehicles 5 via the platform 6 in the cable car station 2. The cable car vehicle 5 could, of course, also be used for loading and unloading objects to be transported, for example winter sports equipment, bicycles, buggies, etc. For people boarding/disembarking, and/or generally for loading/unloading, a loading/unloading area is generally provided along a fixed portion of the platform 6. The loading/unloading area can, for example, be given special signage and it can be separated for example by barriers from the rest of the area of the cable car station 2 to which access for unauthorized persons is not permitted. Of course, other cable car vehicles 5 could also be provided, for example chairs, if the cable car is designed as a chairlift. The cable car also does not have to be designed as a circular track, but could also be designed as a known shuttle track.

At least one entry barrier 8 can be provided on a cable car vehicle 5, which barrier can be displaced between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, access to the cable car vehicle 5 is possible, and in the closed position the access to the cable car vehicle 5 is blocked. In the case of the aerial tramway shown, the entry barrier 8 is, for example, a door of the cabin. The mode of operation of an entry barrier 8 is known, for which reason the entry barrier 8 is merely indicated in FIG. 1 . Depending on the design of the cable car 1, a plurality of entry barriers 8 or doors can of course also be provided on the cable car vehicle 5. In the case of cabins of a shuttle track, for example two opposite doors are often provided on the cabin. If the cable car is designed, for example, as a chairlift, the entry barrier 8 can be a safety bar or a cover for protection from the weather.

As is known, the actuation of the entry barrier 8 often takes place by means of a known mechanical positive controller 9 which is provided in a stationary manner in the cable car station 2 and is indicated only schematically in FIG. 1 . The entry barrier 8 is usually actuated for opening or closing, in that an essentially stationary passive component of the positive controller 9 interacts mechanically, during the movement of the cable car vehicle 5 relative to the positive controller 9, with a movable barrier actuating element 24 (FIGS. 2 and 3 ) arranged on the cable car vehicle 5. In this case, “passive” is to be understood to mean that the component of the positive controller cannot be actively actuated, for example by means of an actuator. The barrier actuating element 24 is operatively connected to the entry barrier 8 in a suitable manner, for example via a linkage or a Bowden cable, for opening or closing the entry barrier 8. During the movement of the cable car vehicle 5 by the component of the mechanical positive controller 9, an actuating force is exerted on the barrier actuating element 24, by means of which force the position of the movable barrier actuating element 24 is changed and the entry barrier 8 is displaced from the open position into the closed position or vice versa.

The mechanical positive controller 9 is often designed as a known link controller. In this case, the barrier actuating element 24 is designed as a lever which is articulated at the entry barrier 8 in a suitable manner, via which lever the entry barrier 8 can be actuated for opening and closing. For example, the barrier actuating element 24 can be arranged on a suspension attachment of the cable car vehicle 5, by means of which the cable car vehicle 5 is suspended on the traction cable 4, as can be seen in FIG. 3 . In this case, the entry barrier 8 can be actuated by the barrier actuating element 24 via a suitable linkage or a Bowden cable 26. An actuating roller, which contacts the guide link of the link controller, can also be arranged on the barrier actuating element 24.

The guide link can extend, for example in the form of a guide rail, over a certain portion of the cable car station 1 in the direction of movement of the cable car vehicles 5, in which opening or closing of the entry barrier 8 is to take place. The mechanical positive controller 9 or link controller can be arranged, for example, in the entry area E of the cable car station 2, in the direction of movement in front of a disembarking area AB, on the platform 6, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 . As a result, the entry barrier 8 is moved from the closed position into the open position at the beginning of the disembarking area AB, so that passengers can leave the cable car vehicle 5. A further mechanical positive controller 9 or link controller can be arranged, for example, in the exit area A of the cable car station 2, in the direction of movement after a boarding area EB, on the platform 6, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 . As a result, the entry barrier 8 is moved from the open position into the closed position at the end of the boarding area EB, before the cable car vehicle 5 is again accelerated to the speed of the traction cable 4 so that the passengers can board the cable car vehicle 5. In the area between the start of the disembarking area AB and the end of the boarding area EB, the entry barrier 8 preferably remains open, so that passengers can board and/or disembark the cable car vehicles 5.

Depending on the specific embodiment and arrangement of the mechanical positive controller 9 or the link guide, the opening/closing time or the open/closed position of the entry barrier 8 within the cable car station 2 are fixedly predefined and cannot be changed, or can be changed only with great effort. An opening or closing of the entry barrier 8 outside the positions specified by the mechanical positive controller 9 is therefore generally not possible. If a cable car vehicle 5 is already located in the exit area A of the cable car station 2 after the mechanical positive controller 9, for example when viewed in the direction of movement, the entry barrier 8 will already be in the closed position. However, it may be the case that, in this position, for example an emergency situation occurs, and the drive of the cable car 1 is stopped.

This can be the case, for example, if, during the closing of the entry barrier 8, an object which projects out of the cable car vehicle 5 becomes trapped, or because a person has been dragged along by the cable car vehicle 5, and a known contour control was triggered by the object or the person, which usually triggers an emergency stop of the cable car 1 for safety reasons. In this case, it may be desirable to open the entry barrier 8 in order to remove the object or help the person, and then to continue the operation of the cable car 1. Hitherto, this has only been possible manually and required, on the one hand, the necessary skill and, on the other hand, a relatively large expenditure of force, because the entry barrier 8 is often relatively difficult to move, for safety reasons, and may possibly also be preloaded in the closed position by a preloading device. It is therefore apparent that the mechanical positive controller 9 previously used is considerably limited when the entry barrier 8 is opened within the cable car station 2.

According to the present teaching, at least one remotely controllable barrier actuation apparatus 10 for actuating the entry barrier 8 of the cable car vehicle 5 is therefore provided in the cable car station 2, the barrier actuation apparatus 10 being actuatable by a remote-control unit 11 in order to move the entry barrier 8 remotely from the closed position into the open position and/or vice versa, when the cable car vehicle 5 is located in the region of the barrier actuation apparatus 10. At least one movable actuating component is provided in the barrier actuation apparatus 10, for example an opening element 28 and/or a closing element 30, which is displaced by the remote-control unit 11 when the barrier actuation apparatus 10 is activated, in order to exert an actuating force on the barrier actuating element 24 of the cable car vehicle 5. The barrier actuating element 24 can be displaced by the actuating force in order to actuate the entry barrier 8. “Remote control” or from a “distance” mean, in this context, in particular that it is possible to actively influence the entry barrier 8 by means of the movable actuating component of the barrier actuation apparatus 10, without the need for a member of the operating staff to be located on site at the entry barrier 8 for this purpose.

As a result, the entry barrier 8 can be opened and/or closed remotely by means of the barrier actuation apparatus 10 in the cable car station 2, for example locally independently of any possible mechanical positive controller 9. However, it would also be conceivable for the barrier actuation apparatus 10 to be provided in a cable car station 2 instead of a mechanical positive controller 9. In this case, the movable actuating component could, for example, be moved relative to the barrier actuation apparatus 10 during the movement of the cable car vehicle 5, in order to continuously displace the barrier actuating element 24. As a result, the entry barrier 8 could be opened or closed during the movement of the cable car vehicle 5.

However, the barrier actuation apparatus 10 and the mechanical positive controller 9 could also be structurally combined. For example, a guide link of the mechanical positive controller 9 (which is stationary in normal operation) could simultaneously form the movable actuating component of the barrier actuation apparatus 10. If a cable car vehicle 5 comes to rest, for example, in the region of the guide link, and as a result the entry barrier 8 is not, or is only insufficiently, opened or closed, the guide link could be moved by activation via the remote-control unit 11 in order to displace the barrier actuating element 24 and thereby displace the entry barrier 8 into the open position or the closed position. Of course, the barrier actuation apparatus 10 could, however, also be arranged, for example when viewed in the direction of movement BR, at the same position in the cable car station 2 as the mechanical positive controller 9, for example side-by-side in the transverse direction. The entry barrier 8 which is incompletely opened or closed in the event of standstill of a cable car vehicle 5 in the region of the mechanical positive controller 9 could in this case be completely opened or closed by the barrier actuation apparatus 10.

The remote-control unit 11 can be designed, for example, as a stationary remote-control unit 11 a, which can preferably be arranged in a control room 12 in the cable car station 2. As a result, the entry barrier 8 can be controlled, for example, by the responsible operating personnel from the control room 12, from which the control of the cable car 1 is generally effected anyway. Additionally, or alternatively, a stationary remote-control unit 11 a could, however, also be arranged for example outside the cable car station 2 (in which the barrier actuation apparatus 10 is provided), for example in another cable car station 2, in a central control center responsible for a plurality of cable cars, etc. As a result, for example the operating personnel of one cable car station 2 are able to control the barrier actuation apparatus 10 of another cable car station 2. Alternatively, or additionally, the barrier actuation apparatus 10 can however advantageously also be controlled via a portable remote-control unit 11 b, preferably a mobile telephone or a portable computer. As a result, control flexibility can be increased, because the operating personnel can open and/or close the entry barrier 8 in a locally independent manner.

“Locally independent” is to be understood here to mean that a control of the barrier actuation apparatus 10 by the mobile remote-control unit 11 b, in contrast to the stationary remote-control unit 11 a, cannot only take place from a point within the cable car station 2 (in which the barrier actuation apparatus 10 is arranged), but also from outside the respective cable car station 2, for example again from another cable car station 2, from a central control center responsible for a plurality of cable cars, etc. Irrespective of whether a stationary or mobile remote-control unit 11 a, 11 b is used, control signals from the remote-control unit 11 can be transmitted wirelessly and/or in a wired manner to the barrier actuation apparatus 10. By way of example, WLAN, radio, Bluetooth or near-field communication (NFC) could be used as wireless control, as indicated in FIG. 1 on the mobile remote-control unit 11 b. A wired transmission could take place e.g. in a known manner via an electrical line, for example in the form of a data communication bus.

The control of the barrier actuation apparatus 10 can take place directly, by the control signals being transmitted directly from the remote-control unit 11 to the barrier actuation apparatus 10. Preferably, however, the control is effected indirectly via the cable car control unit SE, as shown in FIG. 1 . In this case, the remote-control unit 11 transmits the control signals for controlling the barrier actuation apparatus 10 to the cable car control unit SE, which processes the control signals and operates the barrier actuation apparatus 10 depending on the control signals received. An advantageous embodiment of a barrier actuation apparatus 10 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 .

FIG. 2 shows a side view of an advantageous embodiment of a barrier actuation apparatus 10, which is arranged in the exit area A of a cable car station 2. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the barrier actuation apparatus 10, along the cutting line A-A in FIG. 2 . A cable car vehicle 5 is located in the region of the barrier actuation apparatus 10, for example at a standstill, only the upper part of the cable car vehicle 5 being shown. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cable car vehicle 5 is decoupled from the traction cable 4 and is guided on a guide rail 7 within the cable car station 2. The cable car vehicle 5 has a conveying body (not shown) for receiving passengers and/or objects, for example a cabin or a chair. The conveying body is fastened to a suspension attachment 15 of the cable car vehicle 5. At least one entry barrier 8 (not shown) is provided on the conveying body. In the case of a cabin, the entry barrier 8 can be, for example, a door of the cabin.

The cable car vehicle 5 can be connected to the traction cable 4 via the suspension attachment 15. For this purpose, a cable clamp 16 can be arranged on the suspension attachment 12, which can clamp the traction cable 4 under the action of one or more clamping springs 17, and which can be actuated mechanically via a coupling roller 18 and a clamp lever 19. The clamp lever 19 is actuated and the cable clamp 16 is opened via guide links (not shown) in the cable car station 2, which contact the coupling roller 18 as a result of the movement of the cable car vehicle 5. For closing, the cable clamp 16 is activated for example by a further guide link and is clamped on the traction cable 4 by the action of the clamping spring 17. One or more rollers 20, by means of which the cable car vehicle 5 rolls on the guide rail 7 inside the cable car station 2, when uncoupled from the traction cable 4, can also be provided on the suspension attachment 15.

In addition, a lateral guide roller 21 can also be arranged, which interacts in the cable car station 2 with a further guide rail (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 3 ) for stabilizing the cable car vehicle 5. A friction lining 22 can also be included, which can work together with a conveyor, for example rotating conveyor wheels 23 (indicated in FIG. 3 ), in order to move the uncoupled cable car vehicle 5 along the guide rail 7 through the cable car station 2. Of course, other embodiments of a cable car 1 and/or a cable car vehicle 5 are also conceivable – for example a cable car 1 comprising cable car vehicles 5 fixedly clamped to the traction cable 4, or comprising carrier cables on which the cable car vehicle 5 is suspended via running gear, and is moved by at least one traction cable 4. Likewise, the cable car 1 can be designed as a shuttle track, with or without a carrier cable, i.e. comprising a traction cable 4 which travels back and forth, rather than a circulating traction cable 4. However, the specific design of the cable car 1 is irrelevant for the present teaching.

The barrier actuation apparatus 10 is arranged on a stationary component of the cable car, for example on the guide rail 7, which extends in the upper region of the cable car station 2 in the direction of movement BR of the cable car vehicle(s) 5. The barrier actuation apparatus 10 can, for example, be fastened to the guide rail 7 by suitable holding elements 13. The guide rail 7 can in turn be fastened to a stationary structure of the cable car station 2, for example by a suitable holding device 14. In the example shown, an additional mechanical positive controller 9 is also provided, which is arranged upstream of the barrier actuation apparatus 10 in the direction of movement BR of the cable car vehicle 5. In this case, the mechanical positive controller 9 serves to displace the entry barrier 8 of the cable car vehicle 5 from the open position into the closed position. The mechanical positive controller 9 is a passive device, i.e. in contrast to the barrier actuation apparatus 10, it cannot be actively actuated. This means that, in the case of the mechanical positive controller 9, the actuating force for opening or closing the entry barrier 8 is generated without an external energy supply, but only by a relative movement between the (movable) cable car vehicle 5 and the (stationary) positive controller 9.

The mechanical positive controller 9 is designed here as a link guide and has a guide link 9 a in the form of a rail which extends over a certain region in the direction of movement BR of the cable car vehicle 5. A contact surface in the form of an oblique plane falling downwardly in the movement direction is provided on the underside of the guide link 9 a. The mechanical positive controller 9 is designed to interact mechanically with the barrier actuating element 24 for actuating the entry barrier 8, in order to exert an actuating force on the barrier actuating element 24. The barrier actuating element 24 is arranged here on the suspension attachment 15 of the cable car vehicle 5, in the vertical direction between the conveying body and the cable clamp 16, and comprises an actuating roller.

The actuating roller is rotatably mounted on an actuating lever 25. The actuating lever 25 s operatively connected via a Bowden cable 26 to the entry barrier 8, in order to actuate the entry barrier. When a cable car vehicle 5 passes through the mechanical positive controller 9 in the movement direction BR, the barrier actuating element 24, in particular the actuating roller, contacts the contact surface guide link 9 a, as a result of which a downwardly directed actuating force is exerted on the actuating roller. As a result of the actuating force, the actuating roller is pressed in the vertical direction from a first position P1 (in which the entry barrier 8 is in the open position), downward into a second position P2, in which the entry barrier 8 is in the closed position, as indicated in FIG. 2 by the dashed actuating rollers. The actuating lever 25 is pivoted by the actuating force, as a result of which the entry barrier 8 is actuated via the Bowden cable 26.

For safety reasons, a joint 27 can also be provided on the mechanical positive controller 9. As a result, the link guide 9 a can be deflected upward when the resistance of the barrier actuating element 24 exceeds a specific resistance. This can be the case, for example, when the entry barrier 8 is blocked by an object or a person and cannot close completely. As a result, it is possible to prevent the force exerted by the entry barrier 8 on the object or the person being inadmissibly high, as a result of which the risk of damage or injury is reduced. Of course, this is to be understood only by way of example, and other structural designs of the mechanical positive controller 9 would also be conceivable. After the cable car vehicle 5 has passed through the mechanical positive controller 9, preferably without incident, the entry barrier 8 will be in the closed position and the barrier actuating element 24 in the second position P2, which corresponds to the closed position, in the vertical direction, as is indicated in FIG. 2 .

The barrier actuation apparatus 10 preferably has at least one opening element 28 (as a movable actuating component) which can be displaced between an opening rest position and an opening operating position by means of an opening actuating unit 29. The opening element 28 preferably extends over a certain length in the movement direction BR of the cable car vehicle 5, in order to extend the effective range of the barrier actuation apparatus 10. Upon displacement from the opening rest position into the opening operating position, the opening element 28 generates an opening force on the barrier actuating element 24, in order to displace the entry barrier 8 into the open position. In order to generate the opening force, the opening actuating unit 29 has at least one electrically controllable opening element 29 a, which can be controlled by the remote-control unit 11. As described, the actuation can take place directly or indirectly via the cable car control unit SE (FIG. 1 ). As shown in FIG. 2 , the opening element 28 is preferably designed as an opening rail, which extends over a predetermined opening region in the direction of movement of the cable car vehicle 5, in which a remotely controlled opening of the entry barrier 8 is desired, independently of the mechanical positive controller 9.

In the example shown, two opening element actuators 29 a engage at the opening element 28, which actuators are preferably controlled synchronously by the remote-control unit 11, in order to move the opening element 28 in the vertical direction from the illustrated opening rest position into the opening operating position (and vice versa). The opening element actuators 29 a are designed here as electric drives, for example linear drives, in particular as electric spindle motors. Of course, other electrically actuatable actuators could also be used, which are suitable for generating a sufficiently large actuating force, such as pneumatic, hydraulic, electromagnetic actuators, etc. For example, a fixed part 29 b of the opening element actuating element 29 a (here the upper part) can be arranged on a stationary component of the barrier actuation apparatus 10, for example on one of the holding elements 13. A movable part 29 c of the opening element actuator 29 a (here the lower part) can act directly on the opening element 28. When the opening element actuators 29 a are actuated, the movable part 29 c in each case is moved linearly relative to the stationary part 29 b, and generates a force on the opening element 28 by which the opening element 28 can be displaced from the (here lower) opening rest position into the (here upper) opening operating position, and vice versa.

In FIG. 2 , the opening element 28 is shown in the opening rest position, and the cable car vehicle 5 is located in the movement direction BR to a central region of the barrier actuation apparatus 10. The entry barrier 8 of the cable car vehicle 5 is in the closed position. The barrier actuating element 24 of the cable car vehicle 5 is located in a vertical direction directly above the opening element 28, and is preferably spaced apart from the opening element 28. As a result, the cable car vehicle 5 can pass unhindered past the barrier actuation apparatus 10 in normal operation, without the barrier actuating element 24 contacting the opening element 28. However, if the cable car vehicle 5 comes to rest in the region of the barrier actuation apparatus 10, as shown, for example due to an emergency, it may be desirable to open the entry barrier 8.

For this purpose, for example, a member of the operating personnel can control the opening actuation unit 29, here the two opening element actuators 29 a, by means of the remote-control unit 11, in order to move the opening element 28 from the illustrated opening rest position into the opening operating position. The two opening element actuators 29 a generate a sufficiently strong opening force on the barrier actuating element 24, via the opening element 28, in order to press the barrier actuating element 24 vertically upwards (for example to the height of the first position P1), whereby the entry barrier 8 (here via the Bowden cable 26) is displaced into the open position. After this, the opening element 28 can be lowered from the opening operating position back into the opening rest position, the entry barrier 8 remaining in the open position. The sequence of the opening process will be explained in more detail below, with reference to FIGS. 4 a-4 d .

Alternatively or in addition to the opening element 28, the barrier actuation apparatus 10 can also have at least one closing element 30 (as a movable actuating component), which can be displaced between a closing rest position and a closing operating position, by means of a closing actuating unit 31. Upon displacement from the closing rest position into the closing operating position, the closing element generates a closing force on the barrier actuating element 24, in order to displace the entry barrier 8 into the closed position. Analogously to the opening element 28, the closing element 30 also extends preferably over a certain length in the movement direction BR of the cable car vehicle 5, in order to extend the effective range of the barrier actuation apparatus 10. As illustrated in the example shown, the closing element 30 is also advantageously designed as a closing rail which extends over a predetermined closing region in the direction of movement of the cable car vehicle 5, in which a closing of the entry barrier 8 is desired independently of the mechanical positive controller 9. The closing actuating unit 31 preferably has at least one electrically actuatable closing element actuator 31 a, in order to displace the closing element from the closing operating position into the closing rest position, the closing element actuator being actuatable by the remote-control unit 11. FIG. 2 shows the closing element 30 in the (upper) closing rest position.

In the example shown, the closing actuating unit 31 has a closing element actuator 31 a in the form of an electric drive, preferably a linear drive, in particular in the form of an electric spindle motor. Of course, other electrically actuatable actuators could, however, also be used, which are suitable for generating a sufficiently strong actuating force, for example hydraulic, pneumatic, electromagnetic actuators, etc. As can be seen in FIG. 2 , a fixed part 31 b of the closing element actuator 31 a (here the lower part) can be arranged on a stationary component 33 of the barrier actuation apparatus 10, for example, and a movable part 31 c of the closing element actuator 31 a (here the upper part) can act on a control arm 34. Here, the control arm 34 is mounted in an articulated manner at one end on a stationary component of the barrier actuation apparatus 10. The opposite end of the control arm 34 is articulated on the closing element 30.

When the closing element actuator 31 a is actuated, the movable part 31 c is preferably moved linearly relative to the stationary part 31 b, and generates a force on the control arm 34, by which the closing element 30 can be moved from the (here lower) closing operating position back into the closing rest position (here at the top). In the example shown, two control arms 34 are provided, the closing element actuator 31 a acting only on the control arm 34 shown on the right in FIG. 2 . An optional damping element 35 acts on the left-hand control arm 34, in order to damp the downward movement of the closing element 30. This can be advantageous in order to achieve a closing of the entry barrier 8 that is controlled and as uniform as possible.

In order to generate the closing force, the closing element 30 is preferably displaceable by gravity from the closing rest position into the closing operating position, here vertically downwards. As a result, similarly to the case of the mechanical positive controller 9, it can be ensured that, when a certain resistance is reached or exceeded by the entry barrier 8 (e.g. in the case of a trapped object), the closing process is stopped for safety reasons, without an impermissibly high force being exerted on the trapped object or the person. Preferably, at least one weight element 32 is provided on the closing element 30, in order to be able to generate a closing force of a certain magnitude. Depending on the desired closing force, one or more weight elements 32 of a specific mass can be arranged. As can be seen in FIG. 2 , the actuating element 24 of the cable car vehicle 4 is located in the vertical direction above the opening element 28 and below the closing element 30, when the cable car vehicle 5 is located in the region of the barrier actuation apparatus 10.

Of course, a suitable electrically controllable actuator could also be provided for generating the closing force, for example again an electric linear drive, etc. In order to limit the closing force, a suitable sensor system could be provided for example. For example, a force sensor for measuring the closing force could be provided, which communicates with the actuator in a suitable manner. The actuator could then stop the closing process when a certain maximum permissible force is reached or exceeded. Of course, this is only by way of example, and other sensors could also be used. For example, alternatively or additionally, the entry barrier 8 could be monitored by means of a suitable camera system. By automated image recognition, a state of the entry barrier 8 deviating from the normal state could be detected, for example an incompletely closed door or a trapped object or a trapped person. On the basis of the image recognition, the actuator could stop the closing process, for example.

In FIG. 2 , the barrier actuation apparatus 10 is arranged in an upper area of an exit area A of the cable car station 2, and is mounted downstream of the mechanical (closing) positive controller 9 in the direction of movement of the cable car vehicle 5. In a similar manner, a barrier actuation apparatus 10 could of course also be arranged in an upper area of an entry area E of the cable car station 2, preferably upstream of a mechanical (opening) positive controller 9 in the movement direction BR of the cable car vehicle 5, as indicated in FIG. 1 . The mode of operation would of course be analogous to the exemplary embodiment shown.

FIGS. 4 a-4 d show the barrier actuation apparatus 10 from FIGS. 2 and 3 in different stages during actuation for opening the entry barrier 8. In FIG. 4 a , the cable car vehicle 5 is located in the movement direction BR before the mechanical positive controller 9, the entry barrier 8 being in the open position. In FIG. 4 b , the cable car vehicle 5 is located in the region of the barrier actuation apparatus 10, analogously to FIG. 2 , the entry barrier 8 having been previously displaced from the open position into the closed position by the mechanical positive controller 9. The barrier actuating element 24 arranged on the suspension attachment 15 is therefore located in the vertical direction directly above the opening element 28, preferably without touching the opening element 28. The opening element 28 is located in the (lower) opening rest position, i.e. in the non-actuated state.

In FIG. 4 c , the barrier actuation apparatus 10 has been actuated by the remote-control unit 11, for example by an employee of the cable car by means of a stationary or mobile remote-control unit 11 a, 11 b (FIG. 1 ). When the remote-control unit 11 is actuated for opening the entry barrier 8, corresponding control signals are sent to the opening actuating unit 29, in this case the two opening element actuators 29 a. The opening element actuators 29 a displace the opening element 28 from the (lower) opening rest position (FIG. 4 b ) into the (upper) opening operating position (FIG. 4 c ), as a result of which an opening force is generated on the barrier actuating element 24 and the entry barrier 8 is opened. Preferably, the opening element actuators 29 a are automatically deactivated when the opening element 28 reaches the opening operating position and, preferably after a certain time, for example 2 s, has elapsed, are automatically moved back into the opening rest position, as shown in FIG. 4 d . The reaching of the opening operating position can be detected, for example, by a suitable position sensor or by a travel limiter implemented in the opening element actuators 29 a.

FIGS. 5 a-5 d show the barrier actuation apparatus 10 from FIGS. 2 and 3 in different stages during actuation for closing the entry barrier 8. FIG. 5 a corresponds to the state shown in FIG. 4 d , in which the cable car vehicle 5 is located, with an open entry barrier 8, in the region of the barrier actuation apparatus 10. The opening element 28 is located in the (lower) opening rest position, and the closing element 30 is located in the (upper) closing rest position and is held in this position by the closing actuator 31 a. The barrier actuating element 24 is located directly below the closing element 30. The closing element 30 can now be actuated by a remote-control unit 11, for example by means of a stationary or mobile remote-control unit 11 a, 11 b (FIG. 1 ) by an employee of the cable car. When the remote-control unit 11 is actuated for closing the entry barrier 8, corresponding control signals are sent to the closing actuating unit 31, here the closing element actuator 31 a. The closing element 30 is consequently displaced downward from the (upper) closing rest position into the closing operating position, due to gravity, assisted by the weight elements 32.

In this case, the closing element actuator 31 a is operated in such a way that it executes an idle stroke, i.e. no tensile force is exerted on the closing element 30 by the closing element actuator 31 a. The closing element 30 is therefore displaced downward only by gravity, and the closing element actuator 31 a follows the movement of the closing element 30, as shown in FIG. 5 b . By means of the mass of the closing element 30 and optionally of the weight elements 32, a closing force is exerted on the barrier actuating element 24 of the cable car vehicle 5, and the entry barrier 8 is moved into the closed position. When the closing element 30 reaches the closing operating position, this is preferably detected, for example by a suitable sensor or by a travel limiter implemented in the closing element actuator 31 a. After a certain time has elapsed, e.g. 2 s, the closing element 30 is preferably automatically moved back into the (upper) closing rest position by the closing element actuator 3 a, as shown in FIG. 5 c . When the cable car 1 is restarted, the cable car vehicle 5 can then be moved, with closed entry barrier 8, in the movement direction BR out of the region of the barrier actuation apparatus 10.

If, for example, an object or a person becomes trapped in the entry barrier 8 during the closing process, the closing element 30 will not reach the intended closing operating position. This can be detected, for example, by a suitable sensor or as described by means of a suitable camera system including image recognition. However, a certain maximum allowable duration for the closing process between the actuation of the closing actuating unit 31 and the closing element 30 reaching the closing operating position could also be predefined, for example in the cable car control unit SE. If the maximum duration is exceeded, this can be interpreted as an incompletely closed entry barrier 8.

In this case, the closing element 30 can be automatically moved back into the closing rest position, for example by means of the closing element actuator 31 a. Optionally, one or more further closing attempts can also be carried out automatically, or an operator of the cable car can perform a further closing attempt manually via the remote-control unit 11. If it is not possible for the closing operating position to be reached even after the closing process has been carried out repeatedly, and consequently the closed position of the entry barrier 8 cannot be reached either, a member of the operating personnel can optionally perform a visual check on site and, if necessary, remedy the error state, for example by removing the trapped object from the entry barrier 8.

The flexibility when opening and/or closing an entry barrier 8 of a cable car vehicle 5 within a cable car station 2 can thus be significantly improved by the present teaching. In this way, for example partially automated operation or even fully automated, substantially operator-free, operation of the cable car 1 can be achieved. 

1. A barrier actuation apparatus for arrangement in a cable car station of a cable car for actuating an entry barrier of a cable car vehicle of the cable car, which barrier is displaceable between an open position and a closed position, the barrier actuation apparatus being actuatable by a remote-control unit in order to displace the entry barrier from the closed position into the open position and/or vice versa, when the cable car vehicle is located in the cable car station in the region of the barrier actuation apparatus, at least one movable actuating component provided in the barrier actuation apparatus, which actuating component is displaced by the remote control unit when the barrier actuation apparatus is activated, in order to exert an actuating force on a mechanically actuatable barrier actuating element of the cable car vehicle provided for actuating the entry barrier, the barrier actuating element being displaced by the actuating force in order to actuate the entry barrier, wherein at least one opening element is provided as the actuation component, which opening element can be displaced between an opening rest position and an opening operating position by an opening actuating unit, the opening element generating an opening force on the barrier actuating element when it is displaced from the opening rest position into the opening operating position in order to displace the entry barrier into the open position, and/or at least one closing element is provided as the actuating component, which closing element can be displaced between a closing rest position and a closing operating position by a closing actuating unit, the closing element generating a closing force on the barrier actuating element when it is displaced from the closing rest position into the closing operating position in order to displace the entry barrier into the closed position.
 2. The barrier actuation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening actuating unit, for generating the opening force, has at least one electrically actuatable opening element actuator which can be actuated by the remote-control unit.
 3. The barrier actuation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the closing actuation unit has at least one electrically actuatable closing element actuator, in order to displace the closing element from the closing operating position into the closing rest position, the closing element actuator being controllable by the remote control unit.
 4. The barrier actuation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the closing element, for generating the closing force, is displaceable by gravity from the closing rest position into the closing operating position, at least one weight element on the closing element in order to generate a specific closing force.
 5. A cable car comprising: at least one cable car station and at least one cable car vehicle, at least one actuatable entry barrier provided on the cable car vehicle, which barrier is displaceable between an open position and a closed position when actuated, at least one mechanically actuatable barrier actuating element for actuating the entry barrier provided on the cable car vehicle, wherein at least one remotely controllable barrier actuation apparatus according to claim 1 for actuating the entry barrier of the cable car vehicle is provided in the cable car station, the at least one movable actuating component of the barrier actuation apparatus displaced by the remote control unit when the barrier actuation apparatus is activated in order to exert an actuating force on the barrier actuating element, the barrier actuating element being displaced by the actuating force in order to actuate the entry barrier .
 6. The cable car according to claim 5, wherein the opening element is designed as an opening rail which extends over a predetermined opening region in the direction of movement of the cable car vehicle and/or the closing element is designed as a closing rail which extends over a predetermined closing region in the direction of movement of the cable car vehicle .
 7. The cable car according to claim 6, wherein the barrier actuating element of the cable car vehicle is located in a vertical direction above the opening element and/or below the closing element, when the cable car vehicle is located in the region of the barrier actuation apparatus.
 8. The cable car according to claim 5, wherein the barrier actuation apparatus is arranged in an upper area of an exit area of the cable car station provided for the exit of the cable car vehicle from the cable car station, and/or the barrier actuation apparatus is arranged in an upper area of the entry area of the cable car station that is provided for entry of the cable car vehicle into the cable car station.
 9. The cable car according to claim 8, wherein, in the exit area of the cable car station, a mechanical positive controller is provided for actuating the entry barrier for displacing the entry barrier into the closed position, the barrier actuation apparatus being mounted downstream of the mechanical positive controller in the exit movement direction of the cable car vehicle, and/or in the entry area of the cable car station, a mechanical positive controller is provided for displacing the entry barrier into the open position, the barrier actuation apparatus being arranged upstream of the mechanical positive controller in an entry movement direction of the cable car vehicles.
 10. The cable car according to claim 5, wherein the remote-control unit is designed as a stationary remote-control unit, which is arranged in a control room of the cable car station or outside the cable car station, or the barrier actuation apparatus can be actuated via a portable remote-control unit, it being possible for control signals from the remote-control unit to be transmitted wirelessly or in a wired manner to the barrier actuation apparatus.
 11. The cable car according to claim 5, wherein the cable car vehicle comprises a cabin, the entry barrier being a door, or the cable car vehicle comprises a chair, the entry barrier being a safety bar or a cover.
 12. A method for operating a cable car having at least one cable car station and having at least one cable car vehicle, the method comprising: providing at least one actuatable entry barrier on the cable car vehicle, which barrier is displaceable between an open position and a closed position when actuated, moving the cable car vehicle in the cable car station into a region of a barrier actuation apparatus, the barrier actuation apparatus (10) being remotely controllable, displacing the entry barrier from the open position into the closed position or vice versa by activating the barrier actuation apparatus by a remote-control unit, the entry barrier being actuated when the barrier actuation apparatus is activated, in that a movable actuating component of the barrier actuation apparatus is displaced and exerts an actuating force on a mechanically actuatable barrier actuating element of the cable car vehicle, wherein the entry barrier is displaced from the closed position into the open position in that an opening force is generated on the barrier actuating element by at least one opening element of the barrier actuation apparatus, the opening element is displaced between an opening rest position and an opening operating position by at least one electrically actuatable opening element actuator and/or the entry barrier is displaced from the open position into the closed position in that a closing force is generated on the barrier actuating element by at least one closing element of the barrier actuation apparatus the closing element is displaced by gravity between a closing rest position and a closing operating position.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the barrier actuation apparatus is actuated using a stationary remote-control unit arranged inside or outside the cable car station, or the barrier actuation apparatus is operated using a portable remote-control unit, control signals being transmitted wirelessly or in a wired manner to the barrier actuation apparatus by the remote control unit.
 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the entry barrier of the cable car vehicle is actuated by a mechanical positive controller provided in the cable car station, before or after the cable car vehicle is moved into the region of the remotely controllable barrier actuation apparatus, in order to displace the entry barrier from the open position into the closed position or vice versa. 